The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special writer/director James Gunn has revealed that Kevin Bacon is his new favorite character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Following the release of the holiday special's first trailer, Gunn took to Twitter to reveal that the character he had previously hyped as his "new favorite MCU character" was none other than acclaimed actor Kevin Bacon, who will appear in the upcoming Disney+ project as himself. The actor had previously been mentioned in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy by Peter Quill/Star-Lord while telling Gamora about the classic '80s film, Footloose.
However, while the 1984 musical drama film is still considered part of the MCU Bacon's filmography, Gunn has teased that the actor's career post-Footloose may not be recognizable to fans. In a reply to a fan on Twitter asking him about his favorite Bacon films, Gunn responded that his three favorite Bacon films in the MCU are "Footloose, Cocktail, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Bacon did not star in 1988's Cocktail or 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, suggesting that the MCU's Bacon lived a very different life than his real-life counterpart.
James Gunn to Co-Lead DC Studios
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will serve as Gunn's final Marvel Studios projects. The writer/director was recently announced as co-chair and co-CEO of DC Studios at Warner Bros., a position he will share with producer Peter Safran. As part of the four-year deal, Gunn will remain exclusive to Warner Bros. and DC, meaning that he will no longer be able to develop new projects for Marvel until at least Nov. 1, 2026.
"We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved," Gunn and Safran said in a statement, adding that they were "excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told."
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will be set after the events of 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder, with the special focusing on the titular team attempting to cheer up Star-Lord, who is still dealing with Gamora's death in Avengers: Infinity War, by throwing him a Christmas party. The special will also see Mantis and Drax head to Earth hoping to find the perfect gift for Star-Lord. The Marvel Studios' Special Presentation will release on Disney+ on Nov. 25, as the epilogue of Phase Four of the MCU.
Source: Twitter